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Master in Religious Education (MRE)
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Saint Paul University offers a Master’s in Religious Education which is conferred jointly by the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University. This program from the School of Transformative Leadership and Spirituality combines the resources of human sciences, education and theology to examine and transform practices in religious education and Catholic leadership.
It is designed to accommodate students’ full-time work responsibilities and is delivered through a combination of distance learning technologies and on-campus intensive sessions (one weekend per term). This degree meets the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officer’s Association requirement for a Master’s Degree.
Program Objectives
- Enhance the attitudes, knowledge and skills of Catholic religious educators;
- Provide additional possibilities for personal growth in faith;
- Provide a better understanding and integration of the principles and methods of religious education;
- Provide resources for the integration of Christian faith and service.
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BELLEHUMEUR Christian, Professor
Counseling, Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Imagination (Imaginary); Human Development and Positive Psychology; Psychospiritual Integration of the Counsellor; Psychology and Spirituality. -
BILODEAU Cynthia, Professor
Supervision and Counselor Training; Anxiety, Shame and Personality in Process and Outcome Research; Psychometric Test Development and Evaluation. -
MARTIN Miriam K, Associate Professor
Mercy and Presentation Sister Chair of Newfoundland in Religious Education and Catechetics; Religious Education; Liturgy; Feminist Theology; Eco-theology; and Practical Theology -
MICHELLE LEVESQUE Lauren, Professor
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PANDIMAKIL Peter, Professor
Religious conflict in pluralist societies; social justice and human development; art and religion; religions and pluralism; philosophical theology; theories and interpretation of myth; ethical issues in cultural anthropology. -
STE-MARIE Lorraine
Practical Theology; Adult Learning and Developement
- To be admitted to the MRE program a candidate must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 70 per cent (B) average.
- A candidate must have succesfully completed at least five 3-credit courses in the field of education. Teachers holding a teacher's certificate or a BEd are considered as having fulfilled this prerequisite.
- A candidate must have successfully completed at least five 3-credit courses in the field of theology. Two of these courses must be introductory courses in the Old and New Testaments. At least two of the three other courses must be courses in the field of theology (biblical studies, spirituality, ethics, Church history or systematic theology). One 3-credit course may be in a field of religious studies considered acceptable by the admissions committee. For teachers in the Separate School system of the Province of Ontario, the OECTA/OSSTA Ministry Course in Religious Education (Parts I, II and III) will be recognized as the equivalent of two 3-credit courses.
- A candidate must have experience in the teaching of religious education: (1) teachers of boards of education must have two years of teaching experience with at least one year of teaching religious education authenticated by a letter from the supervisory officer of the school board; (2) with regard to teachers of parish religious education programs or diocesan directors of religious education, this condition for admission may be fulfilled in another way deemed equivalent by the Faculty of Theology.
Degree
The MRE is conferred jointly by the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University.
Some additional documents, and in some cases specific forms, are required. For more information, please see the page Step 4: Gather the documents needed for the assessment of your application.
The master's degree in religious education (MRE) is a professional program consisting of 30 credits.
The MRE program consists of two modules: a theological module and a religious education module.
As the primary objective of the program consists in training competent teachers in religious education, the program is centered on the practicum of teaching religious education. The theoretical courses are intended to facilitate the two practicums. The practicums will be implemented in accordance with the procedures and policies of the Institute of Pastoral Studies.
Duration of the Program
The MRE program is a part-time program with a three-year cycle. Students will register as part-time regular students. The program must be completed within four years.
Minimum Standards
The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 credits) must withdraw from the program.
The developmental religious process from a psychological perspective. Faith development as an emotional, intellectual, volitional and experiential process. The social context and variables (family, rural/urban, class, sex, etc.) of faith. Faith and human experience.
Students receive training in the basic skills necessary for teaching religious education. This course helps religion teachers to plan their teaching process of a specific religious education program currently used by school boards or dioceses, to understand these programs in relation to the principles of religious education, to practice the specific program in a school or parish context, and to evaluate it. Student evaluation takes place by way of feedback from fellow students, debriefing, work samples, tape recordings, verbatims, or other reports. This practicum will be conducted under the supervision of an experienced and qualified catechist and MRE program faculty. It generally will be held during the second or the third year of the program.
Students receive training in the planning, practice and evaluation of teaching religious education. This course helps religion teachers to plan and write original religious education materials, to teach these materials, and to evaluate both the materials and the process. Student evaluation takes place by way of feedback from fellow students, debriefing, verbatims, and other suitable reports. This practicum is a group learning and evaluation process under the supervision of an experienced and qualified catechist and MRE program faculty. It generally will be held during the second or third year of the program.
The message and activity of Jesus of Nazareth. The meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus as the eschatological event of salvation. The identity of Jesus and the question of God. Teaching the message and person of Jesus.
The Church as institution and event. Its Christological origin. The importance of history for understanding the Church and its traditions. The Church's mission in the world with a specific focus on education. Conditions and means of membership.
Theology and historical development of liturgy. Its major components: the liturgical seasons, the process of Christian initiation, different forms of liturgical prayer. Liturgy and youth. Liturgy and catechesis.
Historical development of ethical approaches in a religious context. Constitutive elements of moral existence. Moral development and education. Relation between moral and faith experience.
The interaction of Christian faith, religion and cultural processes. The implications for education.
The transmission of faith in the current cultural context. The main theories of religious education.
The history of catechetics. The role of the teacher in religious education. The challenges of transmitting a faith tradition in religious education.
History of the relationship of Christianity to the main spiritual traditions of the world. Convergences and divergences. Theological and anthropological ground for dialogue among the traditions. Christian education and world religions.
Exploration of the concepts and practices of leadership for Catholic Institutions (history of Catholic institutions, models of leadership, leadership in Bible and tradition, faith leadership in schools, canonical contexts).
Examination of some of the ethical, cultural and religious challenges facing leaders of Catholic educational institutions (epochal shift of modernity, community and individual, the human rights tradition, the Christian ethical and moral framework, the ecumenical and inter-religious context, spirituality).
Contact Us
Office of Admissions, Registrar and Student Services
Room 148
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA
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Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca
Hours of Operation
| Monday to Friday | 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
| 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
Please leave your documents in the mailbox in front of room 148 when our offices are closed.
